THIS week’s Nostalgia takes a look at St Tudno’s Church, located on the Great Orme near Llandudno.
The place has been a site of Christian worship since the 6th century, when the Celtic monk Tudno brought the word of God to the people there.
St Tudno has since become the patron saint of Llandudno and his feast day is celebrated on June 5.
The present church was built in the 12th century and part of the north wall remains from this time, while the rest of the structure dates from a 15th century extension.
In 1839, the roof was damaged by a severe storm and it was decided not to repair the church but to build a new church nearer the centre of what was then the village of Llandudno.
A year later, St George’s Church was built in Church Walks and served the mainly Welsh-speaking population.
St Tudno’s Church was neglected until 1855 when an appeal was made for £100 to repair the roof and Mr. W.H. Reece of Birmingham and Plas Tudno, Llandudno, “gratefully resolved to restore the church at his sole cost as a thank offering for Divine Goodness”.
The repair work began on St Tudno’s day and the church was reopened for public service on St Luke’s day, on October 18, 1855.
MORE: Recalling halcyon days of setting sail with excursion steamer St Tudno
The church underwent further restoration in 1906, and services including the popular open air services during the summer have been celebrated since at least 1857.
The church remains in good condition to this day, offering a reminder of Wales’ history, and the culture that shaped the region.
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